Catzteach continues to read and run in 2020

Starting my new journal. I’m about halfway through a book right now. Should finish it in the next day or two.

No reading goals this year. I already have three runs/races planned: a half marathon in April, a 20 mile trail race in April, and a half in June (maybe two in June, I need to be careful not to overdo it this spring).

Happy new year and good luck with the running and finding plenty of interesting things to read.

Happy new year! I hope you discover many great books this year and achieve your running targets.

Already finished a book! Yay!

Shatter City sequel to Imposters. Hmm, touchstones not working right now. I’ll have to come back later to fix that.

One thing I’m doing this year: for every library book I finish I want to put the cost of that book in savings. I get most of my books from the library so it’ll be interesting to see how much I save. My library puts an amount on the receipts, but I want to keep track myself, too.

Happy reading & running!
If you ever figure out how to do them simultaneously be sure to let us know.

The Girl in the Green Silk Gown another good ghost story from Seanan McGuire. I so enjoy her books!

Artificial Condition The second Murderbot book. This was my work out book. While I ride on the indoor bike, I read. The first two have been good. I will seek out the others in the series.

Not done with my current read just yet, but I’m so stinkin’ excited: we just booked our trip to Iceland! We will be going in August. We decided to book with a tour company. They will provide transportation, hotel stays, and breakfast and dinner. As well as a guide for the entire trip. I really wanted this trip to be as stress free as possible. It’s my first international trip in over 20 years. So excited!

>8 catzteach: Enjoy every second. Take lots of pictures, and share them around the pub.

>8 catzteach: That sounds like a super holiday. Iceland is somewhere I have always wanted to see. As hfglen said, take plenty of pictures.

>8 catzteach: How exciting! Is there room in your suitcase for me?

>8 catzteach: I agree with the others. That is somewhere that I always wanted to go, ever since I first read one of the sagas.

Hey, wow! Congratulations. I hope it's wonderful.

Thanks, all. I will definitely be taking pictures!

>12 -pilgrim-: sagas?

Hmm, maybe I should read some books that take place in Iceland. Any suggestions?

Year One finished this one this morning while laying in bed watching big, fat snowflakes fall. We are supposed to get anywhere from 6 to 17 inches by Monday morning. Anyhow, this book was fabulous! All the things I like: an apocalyptic event, a dystopian society, people who are making things work, evil people (which I don’t like), and magic! Easy read, but I couldn’t put it down! A virus wipes out at least half of the world’s population. This allows magic to rise and elves, fairies, and witches to be more common. They are also immune. Which leads some people to blame them for the virus. And a Savior is coming.

Now onto The Secret Commonwealth where I shall read about Lyra’s college years.

>14 catzteach: I like the sound of Year One. You can consider yourself to have scored a hit - I've just purchased a copy!

>14 catzteach: I was introduced to Icelandic sagas as a child via a description of C. S. Lewis' own childhood reading.

I started with The Saga of Burnt Njal. It is wonderfully rooted in place and landscape. It was written in the thirteenth century, telling the story of a feud and its ramifications, set in the 10th century.

If you would like a recommendation to modern Icelandic fiction, I recommend Reply to a Letter from Helga by Bergsveinn Birgisson, in which an old farmer explains to his former lover why he could not leave the land and move to the city for her.

I'm so excited for you and I expect many pics to be posted!

Congratulations on booking your trip! Like many others I've always wanted to go to Iceland so will be looking at your pictures and reports with interest.

>8 catzteach: Went to Iceland for a few days last year. Would love to go for longer. Beautiful and interesting place.

>15 Peace2: my first direct hit of the year! I just checked the second one out of the library!

I will take oodles of pics on our trip. We will only be there for five days, but it sounds like we’ll see quite a bit.

Finished The Secret Commonwealth last night. I felt like it was a bit long, but I liked the story. The ending was a bit frustrating, too, but only because it is a bit of a cliffhanger. I’ll read the next one when it comes out.

In running news, I ran my fastest 5K tonight! That felt pretty good.

>21 catzteach: Not a cliffhanger! I suppose I expect no less, but still... I hope I won't have a stroke waiting for the 3rd!

(I have this on hold through OverDrive, but have put a suspension on the hold because I am going to finish what I'm reading first.)

>22 clamairy: hopefully the next one will be out soon. I didn’t even know this one was out until I saw it at Barnes and Noble, then I went to the library and there it was!

The Toll the third in the Scythe series. Citra and Rowan are found. Goddard is trying to take over the world. And Scythe Faraday has found the Thunderhead’s blind spot. This was a great series!

When All Is Said this is our library’s Novel Idea this year and my book club decided to read it. It started pretty slow and rambly. But then got better. I’m not crazy about the ending, though. The plot: Maurice is an 84 year old man whose wife died two years earlier. He is sitting at a bar and telling the story to his son, who is not there. He has decided to toast five people in his life. Through these toasts, the reader learns about his life. He wasn’t/isn’t a particularly likable guy. It was a fast read so that was nice.

Feedback a Newsflesh novel. This one takes place at the same time as Feed. It is about a team of bloggers who follow a presidential candidate. While on the trail, they have various zombie attacks. This team learns of a few things they shouldn’t know. They have to figure out what to do. A good book!

Eruption: The Untold Story of Mount St. Helens this was a book bullet by Northernstar, I think. I was ten when the volcano erupted. Living in Oregon, we heard all about it on the news. And I remember all the stories about Harry Truman. There was a song about him, too. I’ve also been up to the area three times since. It was really interesting to hear all the details around the mountain waking up and how it was handled. I’m very glad the area has been preserved and is there for people to learn from.

Finished Kingdom of Ash this morning. I really enjoyed this series, although this book dragged the battles out a bit. I’m wondering if I would’ve felt the same way if I had read this in the summer. Regardless, it was a satisfying ending.

>27 catzteach: Sweet cheeses, that has a 4.4 rating on here! I am going to pretend I didn't see it for now, since it's a 7 book series.

>28 clamairy: I think the ratings for many series get higher with the later books, because those who didn't enjoy the early instalments have stopped reading by then. Thus only the die-hard fans are left to rate them. That's what I tell myself, anyway!

>28 clamairy: oh, I really liked the series. The last book is just really long and during the school year I have a harder time with long books because they take me a while to get through.

>29 Sakerfalcon: agreed!

>27 catzteach: et al That's got some very scathing reviews for the 1st book in the series! Well marketed in that lots of people buy it, but perhaps not quite targeting the right audience.

>31 reading_fox: I believe they are YA books. But they felt a little more adult to me.

Of Blood and Bone the second book in The Chosen One series. It’s been 14 years since the Doom hit. Fallon goes into training to start learning how to lead and fight the darkness. Good book. I have the third one on my pile.

Just DNFed American Dirt. I don’t know if I’m just too stressed with everything going on, but I found it slow and boring.

Oregon schools were canceled last night until March 31. I woke up to the news. I had 15 of my 25 students today. I get to go back on the 30. It will be either a workday or a day to get trained on how to present lessons online. Depends on what happens the next couple of weeks.

>34 catzteach: I hear ya. I think many of us are having trouble reading.

Good luck with all of that, no matter how it shakes out.

the Mysterious Benedict Society and the Riddle of the Ages I’ve read all of the Benedict Society books and loved the first three. This one was good but I had a hard time paying attention to it. Probably because of things going on. School is closed till April 28. I’ve been sending my families math lessons via Seesaw (an educational, online journal) but some of my kids aren’t getting them. On the 30th I get to learn how to do more e-teaching.

Call Down the Hawk just finished this one. If you’ve read the Raven Boys and
liked them, you’ll like this one. Ronan is back and dealing with life after high school. Adam is at Harvard. Then there is Hennessy, another dreamer. She uses her talents to forge artwork and steal things. And then there’s the group that is hunting the dreamers. This held my attention and allowed me to escape reality for a while. Much needed. It is the first of a trilogy. I’ll definitely be looking for the others.

I wish you the best of luck with the online teaching. I think it is especially hard with the younger children and for sure in circumstances where the family may not have good access to the technology required. Even our university lecturers and students are having teething problems - of course one of those is that now all the students have gone home, they are all in different time zones! Makes running live sessions a bit challenging!

>38 Sakerfalcon: I didn’t even think about the time zone issue with the colleges! Yikes. I’ll find out on Monday what my duties are.

Griffins of Castle Cary the Griffin kids go to England to visit their aunt. She lives in the old Cook’s Cottage on the castle’s grounds. The kids discover ghosts there. This was actually pretty creepy for a kid’s book. The youngest character, who is 5, befriends the young girl ghost. She’s lonely and wants to keep the little girl forever so she plans on making her die. It all works out in the end but I felt it might be scary for some of its target audience. I think I would say it should be read by 4th grade and up.

>39 catzteach: Ooh that sounds good! Like a cross between Eva Ibbotson and Come back Lucy.

It seems most lecturers are doing a morning and an afternoon session, with students joining whichever works best for their region. It's extra work for the teachers though, doing two sessions instead of one. They can't just record the morning one and stream it because the classes are interactive. Good luck on Monday!

>40 Sakerfalcon: oh, Come Back Lucy sounds good! And I've enjoyed Eva's books too.

Wow. I haven't posted in my thread in a while. With "distance learning" happening, I've actually been pretty busy. It's a different way of teaching for sure. I miss being in my classroom with the kids. During the day I'm busy making videos, responding to a gazillion emails, and attending virtual meetings. It's kinda crazy.

But I have been reading:
Charlie Hernandez and the Castle of Bones Charlie is a morphling. He can morph into different animal forms or change part of his body to be an animal part. His friend, Queen Joanna, a witch, has been kidnapped. Charlie and a friend of his go after her. This is a great book because it deals with Hispanic mythology. I've never really heard much about the myths of Mexico and South America. It is the second in a series, but I didn't feel like I missed anything by not reading the first. And since I can't get to the library to get the first one, reading out of order it is. (I can't remember how to add a book so touchstones work, sorry.)

The Rise of Magicks: Chronicles of The One This is the third in an apocalyptic series that starts with a pandemic. I started it in January and decided to finish it. Once the first book is done, it's about rebuilding and conquering evil.

Truly, Madly, Guilty My first Liane Moriarty book. It was pretty good. Three couples attend an "ordinary backyard bbq." But something happens that change all their lives forever. The book flashes back to the present and repercussions of what happened and to the bbq. Eventually we find out what happens and understand why they are acting like they are.

Blood Rites Good old Harry Dresden. :)

And that's it. I'm trying to spend a good hour a day reading just to escape for a while. And now that the weather is starting to warm up, I can sit in the sun and read. Lovely.

>42 catzteach: Welcome back! Glad you're coping and settling into a new normal. It's wonderful that you're finding time to read, too.

>43 clamairy: thanks, Clam!

I was in a meeting a couple days ago and we were told that “it’s too soon to tell” if we will have school in the schools next year. I can’t imagine trying to do this starting with a fresh class. Not to mention the extra stress it’s putting on families.

Finished The Hippo at the End of the Hall yesterday. I received this was as an ER quite a while ago. It was ok. Not super exciting. Probably won’t recommend it to too many kids. The story revolves around Ben. One day he gets an invitational to a museum. He wants to go but his mom says no. So he skips school and goes anyway. He discovers he’s been there before with his dad when he was really little. His dad has since disappeared. He also discovers a developer who is plotting to destroy the museum in order to build houses and make money. So Ben decides he needs to save the museum. It had a nice ending.

We’ve been having lovely weather so I’m planning on spending my lunch break in the backyard reading in the sun.

Eleanor and Park a YA book I picked up at the bookstore last year. Being a Saturday, I was able to just sit and read. I really enjoyed this book. Eleanor is the new kid. And she is chunky and dresses weird. Because nobody will move over in their seats, and Park is a nice guy, she ends up sitting next to him on her first day. This then becomes her bus seat. They eventually become friends and then more. And because of things going on in her life, their relationship becomes a bit complicated. It was a good “first love” story.

>45 catzteach: I loved this one, too. I saw it on a "best of" list in some newspaper or magazine online a few years ago and was intrigued. It's YA, but it's really not.

>45 catzteach:, >46 clamairy: I enjoyed this one too. Have you read Fangirl by the same author? I loved that one even more.

>47 Sakerfalcon: I have. I didn't enjoy that one quite as much, but I adored the fanfiction she was writing in that book. So much so that I read Carry On as soon as I could get my hands on it.

>47 Sakerfalcon: this was the first one of hers I’ve read. I plan to read more, but will probably wait until the library opens back up, which, right now, is planned for June 15.

>49 catzteach: No OverDrive? Or do you not use an eReader?

>49 catzteach: I do have Overdrive and Libby, but I’d rather not use my iPad to read. I have plenty of paper books to keep me occupied. They may even last until the library opens. If not, I’ll do the iPad.

Finished a couple more books:
The Clockwork Three this one was given to me by a friend. Giuseppe is an orphaned street musician trying to escape his master. Frederick is an apprentice clockmaker working on an automaton. Hannah is a maid in a grand hotel with a sick father. They all are trying to solve their own problems when they meet each other and decide to help each other. This was a good book. The characters were real and genuine. It's meant for kids from ages 10 to 12ish.

I also finished an ER book A Wish in the Dark. Pong was born in Namwon Prison. One day he escapes. Nok is the daughter of the warden. She makes it her mission to find Pong. I did not like Nok. She was annoying. I'd give this book 3 out of 5 stars. Even though it wasn't the most exciting book, Nok was a great example of how a character can change from the beginning of the book to the end of the book. So, eh, that was good.

And now I'm halfway through Astoria. I'm enjoying it so far!

Finished a couple more books:
The Clockwork Three this one was given to me by a friend. Giuseppe is an orphaned street musician trying to escape his master. Frederick is an apprentice clockmaker working on an automaton. Hannah is a maid in a grand hotel with a sick father. They all are trying to solve their own problems when they meet each other and decide to help each other. This was a good book. The characters were real and genuine. It's meant for kids from ages 10 to 12ish.

I also finished an ER book A Wish in the Dark. Pong was born in Namwon Prison. One day he escapes. Nok is the daughter of the warden. She makes it her mission to find Pong. I did not like Nok. She was annoying. I'd give this book 3 out of 5 stars. Even though it wasn't the most exciting book, Nok was a great example of how a character can change from the beginning of the book to the end of the book. So, eh, that was good.

And now I'm halfway through Astoria: Astor and Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire: A tale of ambition and survival. I'm enjoying it so far!

I didn't post for a whole month!?! Gee, I knew I hadn't posted in a while, but yikes.

I have finished a few months since then. I'll keep the entries short. :)

Astoria: Astor and Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire: A Tale of Ambition and Survival on the Early American Frontier I used to teach Oregon history so I love reading about it.

The Sasquatch Hunter's Almanac Wasn't what I was hoping based on the synopsis on the back.

Gabby Duran Troll Control cute kid book that will have a home in my class library.

After Alice I've really only enjoyed Maguire's Wicked and even that one I like the play better.

Never Let You Go A good suspense novel

Juliet a good, well, not a mystery really, but the main character is trying to find the family fortune so maybe a mystery. And did Shakespeare really base Romeo and Juliet on another version of the story?

The Mostly True Story of Jack I was expecting a version of Jack and the Beanstalk. This is not that. But it was a good story.

The Protector's War a reread so I can read the rest of the series and remember what happened

When Life Gives You Lululemons a book club read. It was good and semi-fluffy. Just what I needed.

Whew. I've read quite a bit in the last month. And with school wrapping up next week, I'll be able to start my summer reading. :) Yay!

>54 catzteach: That is a long list. Very impressive! I'm happy you've managed to do so much reading. And it sounds like there's a lot more to come.

>55 clamairy: My yearly total is going to be outrageous if I continue at this rate.

Just “finished” The Sword of Shannara I put finished in quotes because I skimmed a lot of the last 200 pages. I was over halfway and just couldn’t do anymore. I was warned by someone on here, I think Mrs. Lee. I wanted to try the book because I like the show on Netflix. The show is better.

>57 catzteach: I'd forgotten there was a Netflix series. I might tack that onto my watch list, which is already too long.

>57 catzteach: That was my reaction when I read it, back in the eighties.

>57 catzteach: I don't remember reading that, but also think I was warned off of it. Or, my memory seems to be deficient lately in remembering books I've read. :(

>58 clamairy: Definitely a lot of choices on what to watch.

>59 -pilgrim-: Glad I'm not the only one.

>60 MrsLee: Hmm, I wonder who it was then. Whoever it was even shipped me their copy of this book because I wanted to read it and they didn't like them.

Finished a re-read fo Divergent last night. I’m continuing to work through my TBR pile. I have the entire trilogy but never got around to reading the last book. Since it’s been so long, I have t re-read the first two to remember details. It’s YA so it was a quick read. Now on to the second one.

ETA: I forgot to mention I read Chain of Gold too. The latest installment of the Shadowhunter world. I really enjoy just losing myself in this world.

Finished Insurgent and Allegiant it was a good series. Quick, easy reads. I liked the characters. I know they made two movies, but I didn’t watch them and don’t know if they covered all three books in the two movies.

>63 catzteach: They made 3 films, but the third only covered half of the final book. There was going to be a 4th film, but that seems unlikely to happen now.

I read Divergent years ago, in advance review copy when it first came out, and never went back to the series once she wrote the sequels (as the ending of Divergent had really annoyed me). I tried watching the film versions of the sequels, but was even less impressed, and did not get far into the third film.

>64 -pilgrim-: I didn’t watch the films initially because I wasn’t crazy about the actress who played Tris and I didn’t enjoy Insurgent on My first read. Glad I didn’t miss much.

Edison’s Alley the second in a series for kids. In the first book, Nick moves into a new house where he finds tons of junk in the attic. He decides to sell it all in a garage sale. Then he finds out they were all made by Tesla and they all do something special. So he and his friends start getting them back. There is a secret (evil) society that is also trying to get them. This is a continuation of that story line. Fun series that I’ll keep in the classroom for my higher readers.

Predator’s Gold the second in the Mortal Engines series. The Husband bought this set of books when the movie came out. He wanted to read them. Hers read the first one. :) I actually liked this one better than the first. Hester and Tom have been traveling for two years. One day a man approaches them to hitch a ride. Then an adventure to find old America on the Dead Continent ensues.

In other news, I was able to browse at the library yesterday! It’s very limited, but still, browsing! I did feel a bit rushed as it’s in a room on the way to pick up holds and they were making people wait in line to get in. Felt good, though.

>63 catzteach: & >64 -pilgrim-: I generally enjoyed the book series. I think Veronica Roth is a solid writer with solid ideas. Whereas I think Suzanne Collins has brilliant ideas, but I find her writing slightly uneven.

The actress who played Tris didn't emote much in the first (and only) movie I saw, however she's quite good in the HBO series based on Big Little Lies and was even nominated for an Emmy award.

>67 clamairy: I’ve only seen her in The Secret Life of the American Teenager. I didn’t like her character much. I guess I should give her a try in something else.

Just finished The Starless Sea and all I can think is “what did I just read?” But maybe put an expletive in that question. :) What a weird book. I feel like I’m missing some message, like maybe the entire book was a metaphor and I missed it. I think this one needs to sit with me for a bit.

>67 clamairy: I would agree with you in your comparison of Veronica Roth and Suzanne Collins. I also compared Divergent favourably to the Harry Potter opus.

What I disliked about the end of the book was: the way Tris is feeling positive because the hot boy seems to fancy her, despite the fact that she has just watched her beloved father sacrifice his life in front of her, expiring before her eyes.

The prioritisation of a romance, which had not yet had a chance to grow much beyond an infatuation that shows promise, above existing familial ties was a sudden slide from "thoughtful novel with teenage protagonist and coming of age theme" to "teen romance dross" that I had not been expecting.

>70 -pilgrim-: It's been long enough since I read it that I only remember that I thought the series was good but not great. As for the romance, at least there wasn't a love triangle, was there? I really detest those.

>71 clamairy: Since I was reading an advance review copy, that places my reading in early 2011! I don't remember a love triangle, just the crush-on-teacher aspect.

But although the world is extreme, in seemed plausible in origins, and functional, except in the sense that the inherent classes in the system were starting to show through.

But the basic premises of the society described in The Hunger Games never worked for me.

Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood Bryce is half Fae and half human. Her best friend gets killed. She is tasked with finding the killer. She has the help of an angel and her half-brother.

This is the third Sarah J Maas series I’ve read. I like her books. She usually writes YA, this is her first book for adults. It was really similar to her other ones, she just added a lot more cussing, more sex, and drug use.

First Grave on the Right this one was recommended in a FB group I’m in. Charley is a PI and also a grim reaper. She has been able to see dead people since birth. Her dad and uncle are cops. She helps them solve cases. Her love interest is a man of her dreams, literally. He has been showing up in her dreams. But then she discovers he’s real. I enjoyed this book. Nice, fluffy brain candy. Think Stephanie Plum with a supernatural flair and a little steamier. It’s the first of a series and I’ll look for the others when I need a quick, fluffy read.

>74 catzteach: Steamier? Than Stephanie Plum?! That has to be seen to be believed.

>75 hfglen: ok, maybe not steamier, but more detailed?

Once again, I’ve let my thread get behind. :(

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
a Hunger Games story. This one follows a young Coriolanus Snow. We learn how he started down his road of being the monster he becomes.

Shatter Me
a typical YA book featuring a female lead, a love interest and co-lead, and a bad government. But I liked it. The female lead, Juliette, can kill with her touch. Adam, the co-lead, can touch her! Together they find the resistance and start fighting the establishment.

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard
I’ve had this one on my TBR pile for quite a while. My pile has shrunk significantly the last few months. :) I enjoyed Riordan’s Olympic Gods books. This one was just as fun as those. And somewhere the characters will share stories. Magnus is the son of Frey and has to find the Sword of Summer and destroy the bad guy. His cousin is Annabeth from the Olympic Gods series. I do not know as much about the Norse gods. They are something I’ve been wanting to learn about, though.

Pines
I am so glad I found Blake Crouch. His books are good and always have a twist in them. This one did not disappoint. Ethan is a Secret Service agent who’s gets dispatched to Wayward Pines, Idaho, to find two other agents who have disappeared. He gets into a car accident and wakes up near a river with no ID, no wallet, and no phone. He goes to the hospital. After the first day, he figures out there is something not quite right about the town. This one is a trilogy. I’ve already requested the second book from the library.

The Giver of Stars
Alice is a young woman in England in 1936. She meets an American. They get married and he takes her to a small Kentucky town. She doesn’t fit in and she figures out really quickly that her Father in Law is a jerk and her husband is a dud. She’s able to join a group of women who start and run a library on horses. They ride out to the hills to deliver books to the people who do not have access to them. These women are strong and unconventional. Of course, there are some men who do not like this. One is Alice’s FIL. He proceeds to try and stop the library. And then there’s the murder trial...

Moyes did her research on this one. She even had the language and phrases correct. My mom was raised in the hollers of Kentucky and I’ve heard her say some of them same phrases. :)

Never Have I Ever
I read this one just yesterday.stayed up late last night to finish! So good!
Amy has a great life. A good husband, a stepdaughter whom she loves, a best friend, and a new baby. She also has a secret that would destroy it all.
Along comes Roux. She knows Amy’s secret and wants money to keep quiet.
Amy decides she doesn’t want to pay and starts playing the game.

In other news, I’m starting to have to do some work. My union has started to meet because of the discussion of going back to in-person teaching/learning. This has been a hard summer. I haven’t been able to relax and recharge as usual. I’ve been preoccupied all summer by the fall “what ifs,” as all teachers have. I think that’s why I just sat and read yesterday. I really needed to escape. Sigh. We will get through this, right?

>77 catzteach: I'm glad you're reading, at least. I'm so sorry for the turmoil. Yes, I think you'll get through it, but I'm not sure what 'it' will look like. I'm hopeful that each area will take into consideration what is happening in their community before making decisions. That said, I am so glad I don't have young ones in classes anymore.

>78 clamairy: I had a union meeting this morning. I learned my district is already morphing the guidelines to meet their needs, not the needs of teachers or students. Grrr. BUT rumor is the governor is going to make an announcement tomorrow. Crossing fingers.

The World That We Knew finished this one last night. It’s a good World War 2 book. It follows quite a few characters and their journey through the war. It was very good. This is my first book of Hoffman’s.i was expecting something more magical. Other than having a golem in it, it was pretty realistic.

>80 catzteach: I've liked most of hers that I've read over the years, but I don't think I've picked up anything she's written for a very long time. Glad to see this one so highly rated.

>81 clamairy: I’m looking forward to reading more of hers. I’ve been wanting to read Practical Magic for years just haven’t gotten around to it.

Finished The Music Shop this morning. It’s 1988. Frank owns a record store. He will only sell vinyl. He has a little circle of friends who also have shops on Unity Street. The one day Ilse shows up. She changes the dynamic of the circle and Frank’s world.

This was a sweet book. I really enjoyed the characters. I cried at the end. I needed a book in which people are nice to each other.

And now I’m reading the 8th Harry Dresden.

I was in the world of Harry Dresden for a while with Proven Guilty. Always a good read.

I also read Wayward. I’ve become a big Blake Crouch fan. He keeps me on my toes and is always entertaining. This book brings the reader back to Wayward Pines, Idaho. An idyllic little town where everyone knows something isn’t right. Ethan, the town sheriff, has to solve a murder and decide if telling everyone the truth is worth the consequences.

>84 catzteach: I recently purchased the Wayward Pines Trilogy. I keep hearing good things about it so am looking forward to reading it soon.

Have you watched the TV show?

>85 ScoLgo: no! I didn’t even know there was one! Where would I find it? I have the third book waiting at the library. I’ll pick it up tomorrow.

>86 catzteach: Well... Fox Network canceled it after the 2nd season aired in 2016 so I don't think you can see the entire story.

Used DVDs can be found on eBay. The show can be streamed for 'free' if you are a Hulu Subscriber. Or you can purchase the stream via Amazon Prime, ($14.00 per season).

I don't have much other info. I was mostly wondering if you had seen it and how it might compare with the books. I plan to both read the series and watch the show sometime before the new year arrives. The only Blake Crouch I've read so far is Dark Matter, which I liked a lot.

>87 ScoLgo: oh, bummer! I’ll look on Amazon.

Fox tends to not keep shows that could’ve done well. Firefly being a good example. They aired the shows out of order, which is what is said to have caused its demise. But maybe this one just wasn’t what it could’ve been.

Recursion is another of his I really enjoyed.

Catching up on my reading thread:

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Hammer of Thor A good sequel. Magnus is a demi-god descended from the Norse gods. Thor's hammer has been taken and Magnus needs to find it. This has been a fun series from Riordan. I like how he has connected it to the Percy Jackson series. It's meant for middle schoolers and maybe 5th graders.

Unravel Me A sequel as well. YA. I'm enjoying the brain candy that it is providing.

Gideon the Ninth This one is being/been read by a few Dragoneers. I enjoyed it, however, my stressed brain got distracted a few times so all the characters and names were a bit hard to follow. I will probably read the sequel one of these days, but it'll have to be when my brain can handle it. So maybe next summer.

Know My Name a memoir by the young woman who was assaulted by Brock Turner. This was a powerful book. I always knew rape victims had a hard time with the legal system, but man! Highly recommend this one.

And now I'm off to get an oil change for my car. :)

>89 catzteach: I agree that the names in Gideon were (I suspect deliberately) confusing. I did finally get a handle on them after so many of the characters had died! LOL

I think you've tagged the wrong book for Know my Name. I am intrigued by that one, but it will have to wait.

>90 clamairy: Thanks. I did tag the wrong book. It's fixed now. And I agree with your spoiler. :)

>90 clamairy: I agree about the names! I would have liked to learn a bit more about everyone and their houses before they got killed off!

>92 Sakerfalcon: did I just read in Clam’s thread that you are finding Harrow the Ninth confusing? If so, I should wait a while to read it. But I also liked the idea of reading it now while Gideon is fresh in my head. Hmmm .... I wonder if my racing brain could take it right now.

I’ve been having back to school dreams, which is normal; however, they usually involve things like forgetting where my class is or not having my room ready. Now they are all about tech and how can I switch lessons to tech lessons or get to know the kids through a screen. Weird times, man.

>93 catzteach: It is confusing because the events of Gideon the Ninth seem not to have happened, or to have happened differently to how they were reported in that book. It's still a good read though!
I've seen it advised to reread the last 50 pages of Gideon before starting Harrow, which may be a good thing to do - I couldn't because I had to move my copy to the loft.

>94 Sakerfalcon: Ok, that makes sense. I had to return my copy to the library so I won't be able to reread the last 50 pages either. I did request Harrow and I'm next on the list so hopefully I'll get it soon.

White Night I am really enjoying the Dresden Files. I have the next one ready for pick up at the library.

I also have The Empire of Gold ready for pick up.

And good news, I think, our library will be opening up for browsing on September 8th. I'll be knee deep into school by then so I will probably continue to request books. But it'll be there if/when I'm ready for browsing.

Reread Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I listened to it the first time and I don't remember details as well when I listen to a book. I wanted to remember details so I'm going to read them this time around. Plus, I never actually finished the series. I'll pick up the Chamber of Secrets tomorrow.

Small Favor Another Harry Dresden. I love Harry's humor.

And now I'm reading The Empire of Gold. It's a big one and with school starting back up, it'll take me a while to get through it. So far, I'm liking it.

>96 catzteach: I'm reading Small Favor right now as well.

>97 MrsLee: I need to request the next one from the library. They are definitely hitting the spot right now.

Had to pop out of The Empire of Gold to read my book club book When We Believed in Mermaids. It was a good one. Kit, an ER doctor, has believed her sister dead for 15 years. Then one night she sees her on a news report about a club fire in New Zealand. With the urging of her mother, she decides to go to NZ to find her sister. They both have childhood trauma they are carrying around with them. A sweet story of two women who survived trauma.

And now to pop back into The Empire of Gold.

Finished The Empire of Gold. This was such a good series! I’m so glad I read it.

>99 catzteach: I am glad you enjoyed it. I thought it was great.

>100 pgmcc: it really was! I just love the characters.

Finished Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts. It was a book bullet that hit me square on and I’m so glad it did! This book was great! Loved Tuesday and her intelligence and ability to research and solve puzzles. Her friend Dex was also a very believable and likable. I was a bit afraid the ending was going to be sad but am very satisfied with it.

>102 catzteach: I really enjoyed Tuesday Mooney too! If I ever get to visit Boston again I will take it with me to reread there.

>103 Sakerfalcon: what a good idea! It also made we want to visit Salem.

Don't be in too much of a hurry unless you like tourist traps. Salem is a dump for the most part with silly witch museums that have nothing to do with the killing of innocents because of religion. The coast is gorgeous, but the 'industry' is an insult to the dead.

We enjoyed a walk along the harbour area in Salem. We also went to the Salem Visitor Center. It was worth the visit if you are in the area. It had plenty of information about the town and the general area. It was not dedicated to the witch history, but focused on the wider history of the town and wider area. The information film was very good.

We did do a bit of the touristy things, like attend a performance of the trials, but apart from that we just enjoyed the day out.

Spring is a lovely time to visit Salem. I like to go in late April when the cherry blossoms bloom in the parks along the harbor. There are some funky shops and antique stores and cool cobblestone streets and historic buildings.

Hopefully I'll get to the East Coast sometime in the next decade. :)

Finished a reread of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Reading a book that is familiar is just what I needed as school started. This Distance Learning thing is hard! All the teachers are walking around exhausted and with a brain that has turned to mush.

I have started a nice night-time routine of sitting down with a cup of stress reliever tea (lavender and chamomile) and reading a book before my lavender bath and bedtime. I've been sleeping very well since doing this routine. I think I'll keep it up the rest of the year. :)

>104 catzteach:, >106 pgmcc: & >107 Darth-Heather: Everyone I know who did the Salem tourist thing had a good time. Their only complaint was about the crowds, and only if they went in October.

>99 catzteach: Glad you enjoyed it. I had some minor quibbles, but was definitely pleased with the story arc.

>109 clamairy: We went in August. There were no crowds, and it was hot.

>109 clamairy: Ha. I would imagine October would be crazy there. I'd visit in the summertime.

Finished The Lost Book of the White last night. I am grateful she is still coming up with Shadowhunter stories. This one had Magnus and the Shadowhunters going to Shanghai to hunt down a Prince of Hell. An enjoyable adventure.

And now I dive into another Harry Dresden book.

So...a quick question about the Dresden books...specifically the graphic novels which appeal to me on a weird level. Do they need to be read in order? Many of them are available as part of Kindle Unlimited, but not all and I don't want to start something that will leave me frustrated.

TIA!!

>112 Bookmarque: like many series, he recaps certain things in each novel. So one could read them out of order. I, however, am OCD enough that I have to read them in order. I’ve had to purchase the ones the library doesn’t carry. I also snagged a few from another Green Dragoneer. I’m keeping all the ones I’ve purchased as these may become books that I reread during stressful times when I need a comfort/familiar read.

I believe Mrs. Lee has read most, if not all, of them and could answer your question better.

>112 Bookmarque: I think it is best to read them in order, otherwise the character development may be missed, and Harry can be a bit stupid in the early books. He grows and learns throughout, and if he doesn't necessarily change to perfection, at least he recognizes his faults as faults.

Although I have read all of the series (except the 2 published this year) several times, I have only read one of the graphic novels, so I'm not sure how it works in those. Not sure graphic novel format is conducive to all the introspection and character growth that occurs in the novels.

See, that might work for me. I HATE extensive navel-gazing in books. A little, sure, we need to know someone has an interior life and it shows intentions etc, but sometimes it drives me nuts. I've given up on another detective series (actually two) because there was too much internal monologuing and whining. Not that Dresden whines, since I haven't read any of the books, but you know what I mean.

Off to sort out the Dresden graphic novels.

>115 Bookmarque: Let us know what you think of the graphic novels.

>114 MrsLee: Quite right about character development. Harry does grow and I really like some of the characters that have been introduced along the way.

Finished Turn Coat. It was Harry being Harry. I really enjoy the other characters, too. And I want a dog like Mouse some day, but maybe not so big.

Read The Jetsetters for book club. Hated it. It was way too real life for me. The premise is: Charlotte enters a contest to win a European/Mediterranean cruise. She wins and takes her three children. The children are scarred from a horrible childhood. Their dad was an emotionally abusive alcoholic. They tolerate each other as a family but don't really get along all that well. I didn't like any of the characters. Maybe because this one hit too close to home. Having grown up with an emotionally abusive alcoholic father, I know the scars it leaves. Oh, and he killed himself, too. Having had a mom who attempted suicide and a brother who succeeded, I didn't really enjoy reading about the dad's depression nor the children's struggle with it. This book was just too much like my life to like it. I spent 8 years in therapy healing from it, I really don't want to relive it when I read. I'm curious to see what the book club folks thought of it.

>118 catzteach: That is a perfectly understandable reaction to a book that is so close to real life and personal experience. I do not know why people want to write books about such painful subjects. When I read fiction I want to get away from real life problems.

I suspect the only beneficial reason for a book like that to exist is any understanding it might develop in people who have not experienced the darkness of situations like that and consequently make them more aware of the difficulties some people have experienced.

I had a similar reaction to a book containing workplace bullying. It in no way equates to the seriousness of the situation you have described, but when I was reading the book I was going through the same emotions and pain I had experienced in a period of my life that I want to forget. As I say my experience in no way matches the severity or seriousness of the scenario you described but it does mean I can understand your reaction to The Jetsetters.

>119 pgmcc: I wonder if it is cathartic for the writer? Possibly there may be some who haven't realized that others have experienced such things, or that others could understand who might benefit? I'm not sure, but when I read The Color Purple it was one of the most difficult books I've ever read, not because I had experienced the situations in that book, but because the pain of those who had was made very real to me. I felt I came away with an understanding I would never have had if I had not read it. I can certainly see how painful it would be to someone who had suffered the situations though.

>120 MrsLee: I also think it may be both - that it is cathartic to the author and that it raises awareness of difficult issues in readers who may not have the experience. Isn't it one of the things about reading that it enhances the ability to empathise with others? I thought there had been a study about this somewhere(?).
In any case, while it does allow readers to learn about difficult issues from a distance, it is something completely different when a book hits a nerve like that.

Unfortunately, even with trigger warnings, it isn't always possible to predict what turn a book is going to take, and what it will trigger.
Whoever said reading was safe?!

>118 catzteach: I am sorry this book brought up unhappy memories. When I hit patches that hit too close to home I often jump ship. I suspect this being a book club selection probably kept you reading. Don't forget about protecting yourself.

I wonder if the author lived through similar things. I know it was a painful, but beneficial, thing for me to write about my mom’s suicide attempt in a writing class I took years ago. Side note: I had one of my classmates come up to me and thank me for writing about it. She’d been contemplating suicide and was wondering how it would effect her kids. She said she would never consider it again after hearing my story.

>122 clamairy: I thought about giving up on it, but stuck with it because it’s a book club book. While reading it, I kept hoping the characters would deal with their pain and heal. They never really did. :(

>117 catzteach: - when you start reading changes make sure you have ghost story ready to hand. You'll scream if you don't. I'm not sure what I'd call my favourite HD - probably Proven Guilty, but there are many contenders. And yes I'd read them in order, strictly so for the novels at least. Each book is self contained but the consequences of past actions do catch up in later ones, along with us learning more about Harry's past that wouldn't make any sense read out of order. It changes your perception of characters motivations for some actions, some of it's very clever writing from Butcher, although a little does feel like retrospectively making stuff up, but I didn't catch any contradictions.

>124 reading_fox: thanks for the tip. I believe I have both on my TBR, but I'll check before I start reading Changes.

I haven't been on LT for a while, even to lurk on others' posts. I don't quite know why. I guess I've just been busy. And I haven't wanted to be on the computer in the evenings. I'm on one all day long. I have been reading, though.

Here's what I've finished lately:

Hard Wired This one is about a 15 year old boy who discovers he's actually an AI. He wants to be considered a person and have freedom so he sues for his independence. It was interesting.

Chosen Ones Ten years ago, 5 teenagers were chosen to fight the Dark One. At a ten year anniversary, one of them dies. The rest are sucked into another fight against evil. It was pretty interesting, but not as captivating as I was hoping it would be.

Thorn This one grabbed me from the beginning. I'm not sure why. It's about a princess, Alyrra, who is on her way to get married. But a sorceress intervenes and has the princess and her nemesis change bodies. So the nemesis goes to the palace and Alyrra becomes a goose girl. The sorceress is really after the prince so Alyrra struggles with helping the prince or just being a simple goose girl. Like I said, it grabbed me from the get go. Loved it the whole way through.

Girl, Wash Your Face Listened to this one while I ran. I liked that the author was real and admitted having faults. And then gave the solutions that worked for her.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Another adventure with Harry Potter and friends.

I'm now in the middle of One by One I love Ruth Ware. I have yet to not like a book of hers. This one is just as good. A group of people have gone to a French Chalet to ski and have a business getaway. Then an avalanche happens and they are stuck in the chalet. And they keep dying, one by one.

School has been exhausting. I'm starting to just not work in the evenings and on the weekends. The work will always be there, my sanity may not be! Ha!

Finished One by One. I really enjoyed it. Ruth Ware has a way of writing that keeps me on my toes. The premise: a group of coworkers go on a business getaway to a chalet to ski. But an avalanche hits the chalet and they are trapped. Then they start getting killed, one by one. It is told from two characters’ point of view. One is the chalet worker and the other is a guest.

I was excited to see a new Ruth Ware had been released and it didn’t disappoint.

Axiom's End not sure if this was a book bullet from LT or from a FB group, either way, I'm glad I got hit!

Cora's dad has started a big controversy by outing that the government has hidden the existence of aliens on Earth. She has been trying to stay away from him and all that his fame has caused. But due to various events, she ends up being an interpreter for an alien. She finds herself smack dab in the middle of the government coverup.

Good stuff.

Daisy Jones and the Six I listened to this one while running. It was very good. It's about a fictitious band in the 1970s. The band members take turns telling their stories. I really liked that there were different actors to do the reading. It made it feel so real! At one point I forgot it was fiction and wondered why I hadn't ever heard of this band! Ha!

I also read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I'm enjoying reading the books. I like Hermione. She has spunk.

>129 catzteach: Daisy Jones is on my TBR pile. I'm glad to see you enjoyed it.

>129 catzteach: The members of my book club said the print book felt disjointed. I think I liked it so much because it was audio.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Continuing my journey through the HP world.

The Bear and the Nightingale Finally got around to this one! I really enjoyed it. I'll definitely be reading the others in the series.

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Ship of the Dead Finished off this series. I really enjoy these series. I know they have led a few kids to research and learn more about all the myths out there. They are fun reads.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix In some ways I feel the villain in this book is worse than Lord Voldemort. Maybe because she is more real than him.

The Peacock Emporium This one is definitely not one of JoJo Moyes' best books. It was just ok. I didn't really love any of the characters, except one that was kind of a fringe character. There were a few side stories, but the main story has Suzanna moving back to her childhood home. Her parents let her and her husband live in one of the estates cottages. She decides to open a little shop in town. Suzanna is also dealing with some complications in her family and there is a family secret having to do with her birth mother. It has a satisfying ending.

>131 catzteach: I agree with you, about Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Lord Voldemort simply wants power. He is completely ruthless, but he actively hates very few people. A sadist, someone for whom cruelty is less a means than an end, is far more disturbing, even when less powerful.

>131 catzteach: I’m glad you enjoyed The Bear and the Nightingale! That was one of my favorite reads from this year. I liked the other two books too, although the first was my favorite.

Happy to see you posting, catzteach. I hope you're getting a nice long Winter Break!

>132 -pilgrim-: agree
>133 YouKneeK: I hear there are two more! I'll be reserving them from the library soon. I have a few others I want to get to first.
>134 clamairy: Thanks, Clam, break just started. Two weeks of reading, quilting, and snuggling with kitties!

I have finished reading:
The Year of the Witching I stumbled upon this one at the library the other day. Then I saw a couple of reviews that said it was really good. It was good. Kind of a hard read as it deals with a community that is very controlling, especially towards women. The main character is strong and stands up to the community. The reviews made it sound like it was going to be scary. I didn't find it spooky scary, just scary in how controlling a person with power can be.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince the next adventure in the series. The movies seem to be on tv quite a lot lately. But this one doesn't get shown very much. It really should. It's an important story arc that explains quite a lot. Just finished it this morning.

Now on to a book club book by Joshilyn Jackson. I've read a few of hers and have always liked them so I'm looking forward to this one, The Almost Sisters. We chose it because the library had a few copies available. :)

>135 catzteach: I'm reading Year of the witching right now! I just started it this weekend and it's hooked me already.

I hope you continue to enjoy it!

The Almost Sisters This one was so good! Leia is a comic book artist. She also has her own published comic. While at a ComicCon, she hooks up with Batman. She gets pregnant. Meanwhile, her grandmother is sick and needs her. So she goes down to Alabama to help her grandmother. While she's there a family secret gets uncovered. I especially liked all the references to DC, Marvel, and superheroes. :)

The Awakening: The Dragon Heart Legacy, Book 1 Breen is an unhappy middle school teacher. One day, while taking care of her mom’s place, she discovers a file that shows she has investments worth a few million dollars. She quits her job and decides to go to Ireland to find her heritage and hopefully her missing father. She does indeed find her heritage: in the land of the Fey.

I really enjoyed how Breen overcame a controlling, overbearing mother and found her strength. And I really liked her supportive friends. I should’ve known better than to read it, though, because now I have to wait for the second one to come out! :)

In non-reading news: went to go for a run the other morning, it was much icier than it looked, I slid down my driveway, fell on my butt, and sprained my wrist. Luckily I didn’t break it. And it’s already feeling better. But it puts a damper on certain workouts.